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Im a resident of Dallas Texas and am currently documenting

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I'm a resident of Dallas Texas and am currently documenting a cheating spouse: I'm aware that certain methods are illegal in the eyes of Federal and Texas law and would like to know what I can use. We share a computer which I have administrative rights to & I have numerous screenshots of her Facebook chat history (through a keylogger) & through this have been able to arrive at their meeting places and photograph them. I have also installed a text tracker on her phone (on our shared account, which I administer) - and have a long history of lurid exchanges. I use a child locater service offered by my cellular provider to ping her phone & document numerous lies. The motivation for all of this is to have as much ammunition as possible when I serve her early next year - but I need to know what I can use... All of this seems very Orwellian & I would have never dreamed of doing it... but this has been very destructive for me & I just want to have everything I might be able to use. Many thanks.

My name is XXXXX XXXXX I'm a licensed attorney (State Bar of Texas). Glad to try and help out.

I am truly sorry to hear about your troubles. My heart goes out to you.

Here is how this works as a matter of both state and federal law. It's entirely up to you what you do with this information, but here is the accurate truth.

Texas is what we call a one-party consent state, pursuant to Tex. Penal Code Ann. §16.D2(c)(4). That means you can record conversations between you and your spouse as long as one party (meaning you), is aware of the recording.

That much is quite clear, and it follows the federal approach codified at 18 U.S.C. §2511(d). Of course, neither state or federal law condone such interception or recording for unlawful purposes (i.e. to commit a criminal offense or a civil tort).

Now, beyond that, you're on rather shaky ground. You can't record anything involving a third party, period. In other words, that would include conversations or encounters (audio, visual, electronic, both) between your spouse and a lover, for example. Also, devices that record computer key strokes, web site visits, vehicle routes are so forth are all off the table.

Today, there is an entire chapter devoted to computer crimes. Here are those provisions spelling out the various elements:

These situations, especially when they involve marital infidelity, are incredibly painful. In all candor, however, I've had potential clients come to me with hours and hours of such proof. I've had the unhappy job of explaining that their efforts were for naught, as the evidence would be inadmissible at trial on a number of grounds. All I'm saying if I would urge an abundance of caution.

Frankly, the very best favor you could do to help your case would be to confer with local family law counsel right now rather than waiting down the road. I can tell you where I would turn, were I in your shoes. Each attorney is previously screened, the fee of $20 is the best bargain around (includes both the referral and the actual attorney consultation time), and the source is the most reliable and trustworthy, namely the State Bar of Texas:

Thanks for the information, I've held off on replying because of an upcoming meeting between the two (they are in fact together right now). I'd like to go ahead & get the referral when you have a moment. I camped out yesterday to try to get a shot of them coming out of the hotel & it just didn't work out (got the back of his head & nothing else...) The rest of my shots aren't very good other than to document his & her cars next to each other in the parking lot.

Good to hear from you!Yes, going ahead with the referral would be a great idea at this juncture. And for $20, it's the best bargain in today's legal world:If you just use this tool, it walks you through the process:Lawyer Referral Information ServiceTake care and have a good weekend!